Grave marker



Dee 4, 1928. 1,694,196 A H. c. WAY

GRAVE MARKER Filed on. 6, 1927 Z6 WW LZ arzcy 6. W g,

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY 0. WAY, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

GRAVE MARKER.

Application filed October 6, 1927. Serial No. 224,404.

lar material, whereby the marker isrelatively cheap and easy to produce and at the same time is capable of exposure to the elements over substantially unlimited periods of time without material or even noticeable deterioration.

More particularly it is my purpose to secure the plates of glass or similarmaterial to the body member or base by means entirely invisible from the exterior of the marker, whereby the neat appearance of the marker is not marred by said means and whereby the longevity of the marker is, as aforesaid, assured, since said plates cover said securing means and thereby serve to completely protect the latter from the elements. Furthermore, it is my purpose to so secure the plates of glass or other frangible material to the body member or base that said plates and body member or base may expand and contractdilferent amounts with respect to one another without danger of cracking or shattering either the plates or the base.

With the foregoing and other purposes in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a grave marker constructed in accord ance with my invention;

Fig. 2, a central transverse section through my marker;

Fig. 3, a sectional View on an enlarged scale showing the manner of securing the glass plates to the body member or base; and

Fig. 4, a detail perspective view of one of the securing devices.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be observed that my improved marker includes essentially abody member or base 10 of cementitious or other suitable material, molded or otherwise formed into any desired shape, and adapted to be covered, wholly or in part by a plurality of plates 12 of glass or other hard, wear resisting material which may be exposed indefinitely to the elements without deterioration.

In every instance the body member or base 10 is produced in hollow form to afford access from the interior thereof to the means for securing the plates 12 against the outer .faces thereof, and while, as previously stated,

said body member or base may be produced in any desired shape, I prefer to produce it with a lower or pedestal portion 1a of ornamental configuration, as shown for example, and with an upper portion 16' of rectangular form against the outer flat faces of which the protective, inscription bearing plates 12 are adapted to be secured. I

T'Wo'end plates, a front plate, a rear plate and a top plate are required to entirely cover the portion 16 of the base, and in accordance with my invention each of these plates has formed therein a plurality of securing device receiving recesses 18 opening through the inner faces of the plates and of less depth than the thickness of the plates whereby the plates present smooth, unbroken exterior surfaces rendering said recesses invisible.

Before the plates 12 are arranged in position to be secured againstthe outer flat faces of the portion 16 of the base, split, expansible, interiorly threaded, soft metal sleeves 20 are placed within the recesses 18 and said portion 16 of the base is covered by one or more layers of any suitable, relatively soft, compressible material 22 such, for example, as weatherproof paper, felt or the like. The plates then are placed against the material 22 and bolts 24 are passed from the interior of the body member or base through openings formed in the walls of the portion 16 thereof and engaged with the sleeves 20, tightening of said bolts serving to expand the sleeves and force them into secure engagement with the walls of the recesses 18 thus to secure the plates against the material 22 and to the body member or base of the marker as is manifest. The bolt receiving openings in the walls of said base member are of greater cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the bolts 24 whereby the plates 12 are permitted to contact and expand in the planes thereof, respectively, and on each bolt, be tween the head thereof and the inner face of the base 10, is placed a spring washer or other resilient device 26 serving, when the bolts are tightened, to hold the plates 12 with a yielding force against the material 22 and, in coiulllllivoperation with said material, serving to permit said plates and base to contract and expand in the direction of their thicknesses, respectively without danger of cracking or shattering the plates.

One or more of the plates 12 is or are adapted to have any suitable inscription molded or cut into the same, the hardness and wear resisting qualities of the plates insuring against said inscription becoming effaced, and, as is obvious, only a single plate may be used instead of a plurality of plates.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings it is believed that the construction and advantages of my improved grave marker will be clearly understood. I desire to point out, however, that various changes and desirable additions may be made in and to the structure shown within the spirit and scope of my-invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A grave marker comprising a hollow base member of cementitious material having openings in the walls thereof, plates of frangible material positioned in overlying relation to the outer faces of said base member, and fastening devices extending from within said base member through the openings in the walls thereof and anchored to said plates at points entirely within the plane of the outer faces of said plates.

2. A grave marker comprising a hollow base member of cementitious material open at its bottom and closed at its sides and top and having openings in the side and top walls thereof, pads of relatively soft yieldable material positioned against the outer faces of the side and top walls of said base member, plates of frangible material positioned against said pads, headed bolts extending from within said base member through the openings in the walls thereof and through said pads and anchored to said plates .at points entirely within the planes of the outer faces of said plates, respectively, andyieldable means between the heads of said bolts and the inner faces of the walls of said hollow base member.

In testimony whereof I.hereunto affix my signature.

HARRY 0. WAY. 

